New leadership plans to pump up UAB Rec Center

The UAB Campus Recreation Center, a crown jewel of student services, will get a little more sparkle in the coming days, says Harlan Sands, UAB’s vice provost for Administration and Quality Improvement. Washington, D.C.-based Centers has been selected to manage the 150,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, effective March 1.

“Our new management team has a great track record of operational expertise and specific industry know-how, and their customer-focused vision is aligned with UAB’s mission,” Sands says. “We expect many improvements in ease of day-to-day services, enhanced programs and facility upgrades.”

“Centers manages highly effective and welcoming campus recreation centers at several universities, including DePaul, Marshall and the University of New Haven,” says Carolyn Farley, director of Academic and Student Service Operations. “They work closely with campus leadership and the campus/member community to develop the most responsive model for that environment.”

The new director for campus recreation will be Sean Ries, who previously managed the department of campus recreation services at Cleveland State University. Bob Holub, also from Cleveland State, will join as the assistant director of facilities. He is an experienced coordinator for daily operation and supervisor for full- and part-time staff.

Campus Recreation will assess the facility and programs through focus groups, surveys and assessments conducted by several of their staff, Farley says.

“Once this assessment is concluded, we will have a much more specific roadmap of the goals — financial, programmatic and facilities related — that will reflect institutional priorities and industry best practices,” Farley says.

“Campus Recreation facilities and programs will remain under a UAB banner in every way. All employees will wear UAB gear and be fully supported as part of our UAB team,” Sands says.

The facility spans three floors and houses a four-court gymnasium, five racquetball courts, four group fitness centers, 18,000 square feet of weight and cardio equipment, game room, KidsZone, aquatics center with both lap and leisure components, enclosed multipurpose center court designed for indoor soccer, floor hockey and badminton, a juice bar, indoor track and a climbing wall.